I just stepped into the cockpit of possibly the most expensive and capable 4WD in New Zealand!
The invitation didn’t, unfortunately, extend to the driver’s seat. But that was to be expected. This was Christchurch Airport Fire Service’s new EV fire engine: a Rosenbauer RT.
Specs on this are very impressive. How’d you like an eight-seat 4WD EV with variable height suspension, four-wheel steer, diff locks, lots of locker space, 2,500 litre water tank, and a BIG HOSE to wash your ‘other’ 4WDs with? Good for 0 to 80km/h in 25 seconds fully laden and around 120km/h flat out. Its GVM is 18 tonnes.
Rosenbauer specialises in such vehicles and design/build the whole vehicle in house. The 4WD RT is the baby. This airport has three of the RT’s bigger bro, the 6x6 Panther (also available as 4x4 or 8x8) – older models that came with more diesel power and gears as they grew. For the just-ordered new EV Panther forget the gears and go bigger batteries. That’s the future.
Today’s world news logged a Toronto airliner crash. Photos showed its fire was being extinguished by Panthers. No-one died.
The RT (Revolutionary Technology) is a rapid response tool, first to the scene, ready for action and scene reporting to those following. Pumps running while moving, pipes fully pressurised, monitors aimed ready for the push of a button to squirt. Foam percentage and spray pattern adjustable on the fly. All controlled by one-hand controller, touch screen or external panel. Crew out the doors and onto it.
Ride height goes from 150mm to 500mm. Robust-looking pneumatic suspension has long travel wishbones and tall air cylinders. The underside is clean all the way with no diff bulges. The drive axles each have a 180kW DC electric motor and diff lock. Both steer. Rear axle steer can oppose the fronts for tight turns or parallel for crabbing. This bus-sized vehicle has a tighter turning circle than a ute!
There are two 6.6kW batteries, one horizontal, one vertical. Range equivalence to an EV car is 50 to 100kms. It will power all its pumps and gear for up to two hours, sufficient for most aircraft incidents.  
There’s an auxiliary power package – a 3ltr BMW diesel internally mounted that can independently drive the pumps and/or recharge the main batteries. This enhances continued use and turn-around times. Batteries can be recharged from the auxiliary or a common three-phase supply.
The sum of this vehicle speaks tech! It is fully electronic including Can-bus and extensive comms capability. It’s fully networked – systems can be added or upgraded directly from the factory. There’s a full digital operation and maintenance manual on board and instantly available.
For me the most impressive thing was the ergonomics for the crew. Older fire appliances require the crew to use many steps for access, gear is heavy and stashed mostly above a high truck chassis. RT has no truck driveline or chassis, it’s more modular. Two steps and the crew are seated with all their gear.
The vehicle is very quiet, even with pumps and auxiliary running, thus reducing crew fatigue and enhancing person-to-person and radio communication. And almost zero emissions for cleaner air in the work zone. The ladder and heavy suction hoses are roof mounted, but load/unload electrically!
Cameras supply 360° views around the appliance and also feed the internal driver mirrors so there are none to knock off or walk into. Work lighting is also full coverage and typical emergency and driving lights/sirens are fitted of course. External LED panels can display public messages or instructions.
The RT design is well balanced for its rapid response purpose. Bigger batteries would mean smaller water tanks or less gear, for instance, so a lot of thought and experience went into it.
I had previously done a similar report for NZ4WD on another awesome 4WD fire unit that was based on the trucks developed for the Baja 1000 desert race. It was nice to be able follow up with this one. My thanks to Tim Evans (Airport Fire Service Operations Manager) for the experience.